Rail

NJ Transit equips all 263 police officers with body cameras

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has completed a $2 million initiative to equip each of its 263 Transit Police Officers with body cameras that will be worn while they are on patrol, NJ Advance Media reports.

The camera deployment brings NJ Transit police in line with a state attorney general's 2015 directive about camera use and policies. While the state provided grants to equip state police and some local departments, the Transportation Trust Fund is covering the $399 per-camera cost for NJ Transit.

A 2013 study of camera use by the Rialto Calif. Police Department said that citizen complains about use of excessive force dropped by 88% percent after cameras were deployed, with the study finding that cameras prompted suspects to "cool down" their actions and "deterred officers from using excessive or unnecessary force.” For the full story, click here.

The 9.3-mile extension, coined the Blue Line Extension (BLE) during construction, continues the alignment north from the previous terminus stop at 7th Street Station and now culminates at UNC Charlotte’s main campus.